Pilates with Luke (392[15]). Decent enough session. I'm a little sore in the lower left abdomen, but I would class it as my usual groin soreness.

Decent run before work out to Asda so that I could get some hills in.

Was moving well, although I've got a sore left adductor this morning.

Felt some strength as I ran up the hills in good fashion.

Had a collision with a metal barrier coming down Putney Hill, hitting my right hand on the barrier. It's not broken, but it's bruised and swollen and hurts.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 10:01(10:01/m) 131/144bpm 90cal 5.99/7.14mph
2) 1m - 9:23(9:23/m) 154/162bpm 109cal 6.39/13.42mph
3) 1m - 8:53(8:53/m) 150/158bpm 95cal 6.75/7.33mph
4) 1m - 9:21(9:21/m) 151/159bpm 99cal 6.41/7.47mph
5) 1m - 9:00(9:00/m) 162/175bpm 107cal 6.67/7.08mph
6) 1m - 9:04(9:04/m) 162/175bpm 107cal 6.61/7.01mph
7) 1m - 8:48(8:48/m) 156/163bpm 93cal 6.82/7.74mph
8) 1m - 9:07(9:07/m) 159/165bpm 102cal 6.58/7.72mph
9) 0m - 1(7:13/m) 160/160bpm 8.31/6.95mph

Session 2/2: Weights session after work. Hand is hurting!

Session 1/2: Pilates with Nicholas (393[15]). Decent enough 7am session before work.

Not entirely happy with this. In terms of form and fitness, it was fine, but my bigger issue this morning was the aching in my groin.

Whilst it's not intense, I can sense that I'm not far away from the groin issues coming back if I push too much.

So, I had planned a 9 miler this morning, but cut it short. I might need to go steady for Saturday's race.

Ended up with the type of abdominal pains that feel like a stitch by the end of this run.

I was gliding though.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 10:00(10:00/m) 129/138bpm 84cal 6/8.56mph
2) 1m - 9:52(9:52/m) 132/140bpm 80cal 6.08/6.55mph
3) 1m - 9:52(9:52/m) 141/148bpm 91cal 6.08/6.66mph
4) 1m - 9:41(9:41/m) 140/145bpm 83cal 6.2/6.64mph
5) 1m - 9:22(9:22/m) 143/151bpm 82cal 6.41/7.91mph
6) 1m - 9:19(9:19/m) 143/148bpm 78cal 6.44/7.56mph
7) 1m - 9:10(9:10/m) 148/157bpm 87cal 6.54/7.26mph
8) 1m - 9:16(9:16/m) 150/156bpm 91cal 6.47/7.49mph
9) 0m - 2(9:59/m) 153/153bpm 6.01/6.05mph

Saturn The Dark Side Strikes Back Marathon (Reading): 3:54:00 Pos 3/27

A Star Wars themed (yawn) marathon at the Thames Valley Nature Reserve, starting at 14:30.

We were blessed with some pretty good weather for this, with the temperature around 11 degrees and some ice cold rain at times.

I'm gradually getting back to form and this was a good performance, with a 1:57 first half and a second just inside 1:57.

I struggled a bit late on, but managed to pull myself together in the last couple of miles.

Happy with this.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 9:13(9:13/m) 134/144bpm 88cal 6.51/6.66mph
2) 1m - 9:05(9:05/m) 148/155bpm 97cal 6.61/8.16mph
3) 1m - 8:59(8:59/m) 151/156bpm 97cal 6.68/7.08mph
4) 1m - 9:13(9:13/m) 155/163bpm 101cal 6.51/7.7mph
5) 1m - 9:03(9:03/m) 156/162bpm 96cal 6.62/7.03mph
6) 1m - 8:46(8:46/m) 157/162bpm 95cal 6.85/7.26mph
7) 1m - 9:03(9:03/m) 161/168bpm 105cal 6.63/7.37mph
8) 1m - 8:54(8:54/m) 158/163bpm 97cal 6.74/7.51mph
9) 1m - 8:50(8:50/m) 159/163bpm 99cal 6.79/7.62mph
10) 1m - 8:46(8:46/m) 161/167bpm 98cal 6.85/7.62mph
11) 1m - 9:08(9:08/m) 161/164bpm 97cal 6.57/6.99mph
12) 1m - 8:41(8:41/m) 162/165bpm 92cal 6.91/8.1mph
13) 1m - 8:41(8:41/m) 163/166bpm 93cal 6.91/7.24mph
14) 1m - 9:00(9:00/m) 165/171bpm 100cal 6.66/8.12mph
15) 1m - 8:46(8:46/m) 163/165bpm 91cal 6.84/29.74mph
16) 1m - 8:38(8:38/m) 164/166bpm 91cal 6.95/7.74mph
17) 1m - 8:53(8:53/m) 165/169bpm 98cal 6.76/7.26mph
18) 1m - 8:56(8:56/m) 168/171bpm 103cal 6.72/7.91mph
19) 1m - 8:41(8:41/m) 168/171bpm 100cal 6.91/9.39mph
20) 1m - 8:48(8:48/m) 170/175bpm 104cal 6.82/9.31mph
21) 1m - 9:06(9:06/m) 170/172bpm 107cal 6.59/6.95mph
22) 1m - 8:49(8:49/m) 170/172bpm 102cal 6.8/10.06mph
23) 1m - 8:51(8:51/m) 170/172bpm 103cal 6.77/7.24mph
24) 1m - 9:29(9:29/m) 171/173bpm 112cal 6.33/6.76mph
25) 1m - 9:04(9:04/m) 171/173bpm 106cal 6.61/7.01mph
26) 1m - 9:00(9:00/m) 172/175bpm 108cal 6.66/9.1mph
27) 0.19m - 1:36(8:24/m) 175/178bpm 20cal 7.14/7.24mph

Pilates with Luke (394[15]). Decent session although I have a sore right knee from Saturday and the groin is playing up a bit.

I need to be careful this week.

Session 2/2: Nearly didn't do this run. My right knee is a bit buggered, but I worked out that it doesn't hurt when I run. It feels like some sort of medial ligament strain. So as long as I go forward and not sideways, I am fine.

My HR has packed up, but I'm pretty sure that this was a very easy run. It felt like it was.

I hope this knee calms down.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 9:37(9:37/m) 110cal 6.24/7.22mph
2) 1m - 9:54(9:54/m) 115cal 6.06/6.7mph
3) 1m - 9:37(9:37/m) 114cal 6.24/6.76mph
4) 1m - 9:34(9:34/m) 112cal 6.27/8.16mph
5) 1m - 9:25(9:25/m) 116cal 6.38/8.79mph
6) 0m - 2(5:50/m) 10.29/6.64mph

Session 1/2: Weights. Getting stronger.

Pilates with Nicholas (395[15]). Quite a lot of leg work but the right knee coped.

A fartlek session where I ran easy out to Barnes on the north side and then ran a part-structured series of fartlek bursts on the way back.

Ran roughly 5*4 mins with 2 min jog recovery.

I've decided that a bit of speedwork might help as long as I don't get too structured with it and go balls out like I used to.

My right knee was sore but will hopefully clear up soon.

Ran the fast bits at about 80-90% intensity and felt as if I was in control.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 10:03(10:03/m) 126/137bpm 85cal 5.97/14.59mph
2) 1m - 9:41(9:41/m) 139/146bpm 93cal 6.19/7.14mph
3) 1m - 9:26(9:26/m) 145/149bpm 94cal 6.36/6.72mph
4) 1m - 9:37(9:37/m) 145/150bpm 92cal 6.24/6.59mph
5) 1m - 9:38(9:38/m) 147/158bpm 93cal 6.23/8.06mph
6) 1m - 9:00(9:00/m) 157/166bpm 100cal 6.67/8.58mph
7) 1m - 8:35(8:35/m) 162/171bpm 100cal 6.99/7.74mph
8) 1m - 8:20(8:20/m) 167/173bpm 102cal 7.19/8.01mph
9) 1m - 9:33(9:33/m) 158/169bpm 103cal 6.28/7.58mph
10) 0m - 1(4:51/m) 156/156bpm 12.37/7.16mph

Pilates with Terrenz (396[15]). I should have took a rest day!

Very stiff and tired jog. I tried to run this at 10 min mile pace but couldn't do it.

Left ankle is playing up. Right knee is still sore. Back is aching. Hamstrings are sore. Right calf is sore.

Apart from that I am fine.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 10:04(10:04/m) 128/141bpm 88cal 5.96/9.02mph
2) 1m - 9:40(9:40/m) 140/144bpm 94cal 6.2/6.66mph
3) 1m - 9:12(9:12/m) 146/159bpm 93cal 6.52/9.27mph
4) 1m - 9:42(9:42/m) 148/152bpm 97cal 6.18/7.89mph
5) 1m - 9:33(9:33/m) 153/163bpm 102cal 6.28/18.22mph
6) 1m - 9:19(9:19/m) 151/155bpm 93cal 6.44/7.28mph
7) 0m - 1(5:36/m) 154/154bpm 10.71/6.49mph

No run or Pilates today because the body is feeling a bit battered. Did a weights session though.

Session 2/2: So, when I left Pilates at 8am, I was buzzing like I'd been taking amphetamines. So I thought to myself it would be a great idea to plan a 14 miler that takes in a lap of Richmond Park ahead of this weekend's marathon, for when I got home from work.

By the time I got home from work and started the run, just after 3pm, I felt shit. Lethargic doesn't describe it.

So, I kept the pace slow on what felt like a pretty warm day (it was only about 19 degrees but it was that really hot type of sunshine).

Anyway, I didn't really enjoy this and I felt bloody rough late on with everything aching.

Mrs Mo simply kept saying "what's wrong with you" as I sat down afterwards feeling a bit ropey. This was followed with helpful comments such as "you've only been for a run", "no need to be so dramatic" and "why don't you go to bed". All because I was sitting with bloodshot eyes feeling like I'd just run 40 miles, not 14 miles.

I think I'll go to bed now.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 9:31(9:31/m) 137/151bpm 93cal 6.3/7.41mph
2) 1m - 9:43(9:43/m) 143/154bpm 99cal 6.18/6.66mph
3) 1m - 9:35(9:35/m) 146/154bpm 100cal 6.25/6.68mph
4) 1m - 9:35(9:35/m) 146/152bpm 94cal 6.26/6.62mph
5) 1m - 9:36(9:36/m) 147/156bpm 92cal 6.25/6.55mph
6) 1m - 9:59(9:59/m) 152/167bpm 102cal 6.01/7.97mph
7) 1m - 9:17(9:17/m) 144/149bpm 74cal 6.47/7.39mph
8) 1m - 9:48(9:48/m) 155/163bpm 105cal 6.13/6.62mph
9) 1m - 9:16(9:16/m) 152/161bpm 89cal 6.47/6.99mph
10) 1m - 9:17(9:17/m) 153/163bpm 89cal 6.46/6.85mph
11) 1m - 9:17(9:17/m) 153/156bpm 106cal 6.47/6.85mph
12) 1m - 9:00(9:00/m) 159/161bpm 110cal 6.66/7.14mph
13) 1m - 9:08(9:08/m) 164/164bpm 114cal 6.57/6.85mph
14) 1m - 8:52(8:52/m) 164/164bpm 113cal 6.76/7.35mph
15) 0.01m - 2(5:14/m) 164/164bpm 11.45/7.35mph

Session 1/2: 7am Pilates with Luke (397[15]). Felt a lot better today following a bit of rest.

Incredibly slow and tired 5.45am plod. I can't sleep, have no appetite, an grumpy and ache like feck. I've got all the symptoms of over training.

I'll get through it. I always do!

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 10:21(10:21/m) 113cal 5.8/6.37mph
2) 1m - 10:18(10:18/m) 116cal 5.83/6.12mph
3) 1m - 10:18(10:18/m) 113cal 5.82/6.49mph
4) 1m - 9:52(9:52/m) 114cal 6.08/6.49mph
5) 1m - 9:38(9:38/m) 112cal 6.23/6.82mph
6) 0m - 2(5:37/m) 10.67/6.37mph

Session 2/2: Straight into a weights session as soon as I got back from Pillates. I wasn't wearing my HRM but I could feel the heart pounding.

Session 1/2: Pilates with Sophie (398[15]). Had a much better night's sleep and this was a decent session. It was hard but decent.

Much better run following two nights' good sleep. Got up at 6.45am and ran at 9am, so by the time I got out I wasn't as sleepy as usual.

Ended up needing to hold it back a bit and reckon I could have put an effort in if I'd wanted to.

Can still feel the right knee playing up, which has been a problem for a couple of weeks now.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 9:57(9:57/m) 134/147bpm 79cal 6.03/6.7mph
2) 1m - 9:25(9:25/m) 134/142bpm 85cal 6.37/7.2mph
3) 1m - 9:14(9:14/m) 142/152bpm 91cal 6.5/8.5mph
4) 1m - 9:41(9:41/m) 141/146bpm 85cal 6.19/8.31mph
5) 1m - 9:18(9:18/m) 141/147bpm 81cal 6.45/8.2mph
6) 1m - 9:26(9:26/m) 141/148bpm 76cal 6.36/7.26mph
7) 1m - 9:28(9:28/m) 143/150bpm 79cal 6.34/6.91mph
8) 0m - 2(9:43/m) 146/146bpm 6.17/6.16mph

Richmond Park Marathon: 04:08:12 Pos: xxx/xxx

This was never supposed to be a racing effort, so there's not really much to report here.

Took it steady and should have really run about 4:05 to 4:06 but I was bit lazy in the last 10k (I never even looked at the watch really and lost track of how slow I was running).

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 9:26(9:26/m) 136/148bpm 93cal 6.36/6.95mph
2) 1m - 9:03(9:03/m) 145/157bpm 95cal 6.63/6.95mph
3) 1m - 9:00(9:00/m) 146/154bpm 90cal 6.67/7.28mph
4) 1m - 9:11(9:11/m) 154/163bpm 104cal 6.54/7.24mph
5) 1m - 9:01(9:01/m) 152/163bpm 94cal 6.65/6.99mph
6) 1m - 9:40(9:40/m) 160/171bpm 113cal 6.21/9.25mph
7) 1m - 8:49(8:49/m) 150/157bpm 81cal 6.8/7.2mph
8) 1m - 9:15(9:15/m) 155/160bpm 96cal 6.48/6.91mph
9) 1m - 9:08(9:08/m) 154/160bpm 90cal 6.57/7.03mph
10) 1m - 10:27(10:27/m) 157/170bpm 107cal 5.75/6.91mph
11) 1m - 9:07(9:07/m) 155/161bpm 82cal 6.58/7.22mph
12) 1m - 8:55(8:55/m) 157/163bpm 83cal 6.73/7.14mph
13) 1m - 9:09(9:08/m) 158/163bpm 89cal 6.56/7.53mph
14) 1m - 9:21(9:21/m) 158/163bpm 91cal 6.41/6.62mph
15) 1m - 9:50(9:50/m) 164/175bpm 107cal 6.1/6.53mph
16) 1m - 9:02(9:02/m) 157/162bpm 75cal 6.64/7.06mph
17) 1m - 9:46(9:46/m) 164/170bpm 107cal 6.14/7.39mph
18) 1m - 9:21(9:21/m) 163/169bpm 98cal 6.42/7.31mph
19) 1m - 9:23(9:23/m) 162/169bpm 92cal 6.39/6.95mph
20) 1m - 9:23(9:23/m) 162/167bpm 92cal 6.39/8.29mph
21) 1m - 9:32(9:32/m) 163/168bpm 96cal 6.29/6.74mph
22) 1m - 10:30(10:30/m) 167/173bpm 116cal 5.71/6.49mph
23) 1m - 9:34(9:34/m) 160/165bpm 75cal 6.27/8.35mph
24) 1m - 10:13(10:13/m) 165/171bpm 103cal 5.87/7.49mph
25) 1m - 9:59(9:58/m) 167/170bpm 108cal 6.02/7.31mph
26) 1m - 9:22(9:22/m) 166/171bpm 100cal 6.4/6.91mph
27) 0.35m - 2:44(7:53/m) 175/180bpm 34cal 7.61/8.25mph

Session 2/2: Weights session after work. I find these to be hard work and I don't know if they make a positive difference, but I guess time will tell.

Session 1/2: Pilates with Terrenz (399[15]). Decent enough session but I could feel the left lower abdomen by the end

Easy, but stiff, recovery jog at 7.30am. Felt as if I had a bit of energy but the body was too stiff to produce anything remotely similar to a run today. It was more of a shuffle.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 10:03(10:03/m) 129/142bpm 89cal 5.97/7.16mph
2) 1m - 9:34(9:34/m) 140/151bpm 94cal 6.27/7.72mph
3) 1m - 9:30(9:30/m) 143/155bpm 91cal 6.32/6.68mph
4) 1m - 9:18(9:18/m) 144/149bpm 88cal 6.45/7.16mph
5) 1m - 9:30(9:30/m) 146/156bpm 91cal 6.32/6.97mph
6) 1m - 9:00(9:00/m) 149/153bpm 88cal 6.67/7.68mph
7) 0m - 1(6:07/m) 152/152bpm 9.8/7.45mph

Pilates with Sophie (400[15]). What a tired session. I slept for about 7 hours but woke up feeling exhausted and could easily have had a kip during class.

Not happy with this. This was a very easy run in terms of pace and HR, however the legs were really fatigued and the left hip flexor felt horrid (which I am putting down to the Glycerins).

I hope this clears up for Sunday with some rest.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 10:07(10:07/m) 122/133bpm 80cal 5.93/6.68mph
2) 1m - 9:48(9:48/m) 132/140bpm 85cal 6.12/6.24mph
3) 1m - 9:41(9:41/m) 137/142bpm 86cal 6.2/6.3mph
4) 1m - 9:41(9:41/m) 142/146bpm 89cal 6.19/6.28mph
5) 1m - 9:54(9:54/m) 145/148bpm 92cal 6.06/6.3mph
6) 1m - 9:51(9:51/m) 144/149bpm 86cal 6.09/6.28mph
7) 1m - 9:35(9:35/m) 147/150bpm 89cal 6.26/6.51mph
8) 0m - 2(9:01/m) 149/149bpm 6.65/6.51mph